Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin, right, celebrates his game-winning goal in the 90th minute with Brian Ownby, left, and Omar Cummings during the second half of an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin, right, celebrates his game-winning goal in the 90th minute with Brian Ownby, left, and Omar Cummings during the second half of an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin (12) celebrates his game-winning goal in the 90th minute as D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp (33) looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer game , Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin (12) celebrates his game-winning goal in the 90th minute as D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp (33) looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer game , Sunday, August 3, ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin, right, celebrates his game-winning goal in the 90th minute with Brian Ownby, left, and Omar Cummings during the second half of an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin, right, celebrates his game-winning goal in the 90th minute with Brian Ownby, left, and Omar Cummings during the second half of an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, is kicked in the face by D.C. United midfielder Lewis Neal during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, is kicked in the face by D.C. United midfielder Lewis Neal during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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New Houston Dynamo acquisition DaMarcus Beasley, right, warms up with teammate David Horst before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

New Houston Dynamo acquisition DaMarcus Beasley, right, warms up with teammate David Horst before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, has words with D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, has words with D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud,left, pushes off of Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud,left, pushes off of Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo defender David Horst heads the ball during the half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dynamo defender David Horst heads the ball during the half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Fans of the Houston Dynamo wear t-shirts of new Dynamo acquisition DaMarcus Beasley before a MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Fans of the Houston Dynamo wear t-shirts of new Dynamo acquisition DaMarcus Beasley before a MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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New Houston Dynamo acquisition DaMarcus Beasley, right, and Boniek Garcia warm up before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

New Houston Dynamo acquisition DaMarcus Beasley, right, and Boniek Garcia warm up before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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New Houston Dynamo acquisitions DaMarcus Beasley, left, and Luis Garrido warm up before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

New Houston Dynamo acquisitions DaMarcus Beasley, left, and Luis Garrido warm up before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo midfielder Luis Garrido warms up before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dynamo midfielder Luis Garrido warms up before an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, is kicked in the face by D.C. United midfielder Lewis Neal during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, is kicked in the face by D.C. United midfielder Lewis Neal during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Referee Edvin Jurisevic, left, issues a yellow card to D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen (23) after Kitchen committed a foul on Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley (on ground) during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Referee Edvin Jurisevic, left, issues a yellow card to D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen (23) after Kitchen committed a foul on Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley (on ground) during the second half of ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, top, checks on DaMarcus Beasley after Beasley was kicked in the face by D.C. United midfielder Lewis Neal during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, top, checks on DaMarcus Beasley after Beasley was kicked in the face by D.C. United midfielder Lewis Neal during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, advances the ball past D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley, right, advances the ball past D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in ... more

Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin, center, kicks in the game-winning goal in the 90th minute past D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less

Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin, center, kicks in the game-winning goal in the 90th minute past D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid during the second half of an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley gives the crowd a "thumbs-up" after the Dynamo defeated D.C. United 1-0 in an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley gives the crowd a "thumbs-up" after the Dynamo defeated D.C. United 1-0 in an MLS soccer game, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark, right, looks for a foul call during the first half of an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark, right, looks for a foul call during the first half of an MLS soccer game against D.C. United, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Dynamo forward Will Bruin has no clue why he plays so well against D.C. United. He admittedly gets up for them, but he cannot explain why he has nine of his 33 career goals against them.

"Right place, right time," he said.

As the final whistle neared Sunday night, Bruin was again in the perfect position at the right time for a goal in stoppage time to beat D.C. United 1-0 before a crowd of 20,061 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

With the Dynamo in danger of extending their season-worst winless streak to nine games, Bruin poached his ninth career regular-season goal (10th including the playoffs) against United for the first Orange win since May 17.

Bruin capitalized after D.C. United's Taylor Kemp headed the ball back toward defender Steve Birnbaun. Bruin made it impossible for Birnbaun or United keeper Bill Hamid to get the ball inside the 18-yard box, then broke toward the front of the goal after Omar Cummings collected the ball on the right side of the box. Cummings pulled Hamid out of the goal, then passed to Bruin.

Second thoughts?

"If I would have missed that, I would have been questioning my career," he said. "I saw it took a weird bounce and stayed up pretty high, so I knew he was going to try to head it back, so I tried to cut it off. When he didn't, I tried to put pressure and make him panic, and that's exactly what happened.

"I'm always up for them. I couldn't tell you why I'm always up for them. I've had good success against them. ... I hope I keep playing them."

Off to their worst start, the Dynamo were desperate for a win. By denying United the chance to jump from second to first in the Eastern Conference, the Dynamo moved into a tie for eighth with Chicago. The top five in each conference make the playoffs. Bruin and Co. have 13 games to earn a spot.

"I think I've heard that the last time (the Dynamo won) was May," coach Dominic Kinnear said. "That's two months without a win. It gets frustrating because it's all June and all of July. I will say the last two games were the two ties here at home. We've looked more dangerous going to goal. It's just about keeping them out. I thought we did a good job tonight eliminating their chances."

The Dynamo (6-11-4) deserved the win over United (11-6-4), which seemed content to park the team in the defensive third for most of the game. The Dynamo outshot D.C. United 20-7.

The Dynamo hardly looked like an eighth-place team, and that can be attributed partly to the two World Cup veterans who made their debut. U.S. veteran DaMarcus Beasley started at left back, and Honduran midfielder Luis Garrido started in central midfield. They provided a lift on a night Hamid made five spectacular saves.

"We defended as a team and not just the four guys in the back and the goalkeeper," Beasley said. "From Giles (Barnes) and Will, they did their job up top, and from the midfielders all the way to the back.

Beasley optimistic

"Little bit easier today because we all worked as a team and defended as a team. And then when we got the ball, we pushed up. Hope it's a good start to the next 13 games."

Even with Beasley and Garrido, the Dynamo needed heroics from Bruin, who hopes his latest goal against United ignites the team.

"We know we can compete and beat anybody in the league," Bruin said. "Unfortunately, the points don't show it in the standings, but we know we can beat anybody on any given day."